CARVING A LANE - Rozanne Bright
CARVING A LANE
Legend Nominee: Rozanne Bright
Many companies within the trucking industry have launched initiatives to grow the female driving pool by creating training programs that support the provision of safety awareness for women drivers. By broadening channels of recruitment and traditional training practices, the space for advancement that women in the field of transportation fill as professional truck drivers, will expand. Establishing an avenue of security (physically and financially), allow females the opportunity to excel in the same field as the opposite gender.
This Legend article features a lady trucker whose positive presence as a mentor and driver trainer reiterates that female drivers are an invaluable asset for the continued progress of our industry. She shares with us her journey thus far as an advocate of success; that a career as a truck driver is attainable for women, despite the evident challenges feared by most.
Rozanne Bright, company driver for North America’s largest food service redistributor, Dot Foods, is known by her fellow co-workers as a kind friend, extremely knowledgeable, helpful and caring. She also answers to Rozy, yet those closest to her call her mom and grandma. With 5 children, including two sets of twins, and 5 grandchildren, Rozanne is relatable to many for her down-to-earth charm and likeability. Similar to motherhood, her work ethic demonstrates an unconditional commitment to perform to the best of her ability. Naturally displaying strong leadership qualities as a skilled driver led her to the forefront - educating student drivers, while helping guide them with the proper tools needed to launch their own career.
A member of Women In Trucking (WIT), with several safe driving awards to boot, Rozanne explains that the available source of income accompanied with the freedom of the road are two main factors that initially attracted her to the lifestyle of operating big rigs. At the age of 35, her two youngest children were finishing high school while her mother was moving forward with retirement, closing their catering business.
“With the catering business, we did everything: cooked food, delivered it, served customers… the entire works. All of my life, my mother put in long days, working nonstop, pouring everything she had into her job. Even when I worked for her, I juggled an additional job, sometimes three at a time. I believe I inherited that tough mentality from her. I’m still a workaholic! Money motivates me, which is what lured me into trucking.”
Rozanne had cousins that drove trucks for a living. However, the thought of pursuing a career of her own in such a manner never went any further than an idea. Raising her family came first.
January of 2012, after graduating from truck driving school and earning her CDL Rozanne secured a driving position at the Dot Foods Ardmore, Oklahoma location (one of their 11 distribution centers). At the time, she was the only female driver to which she recalls was a bit intimidating, though in hindsight, an overall learning experience that she often taps into when speaking with other women interested in joining the driving fleet of Dot Foods. She adds, “Surprisingly, in the beginning I received help from many strangers who were mostly men, of course. All were willing to take time and offer advice, and so on. I try to assure women that the numbers may not be in our favor, but the industry as a whole is very encouraging.”
Two years later, Rozanne became Dot Foods Oklahoma’s first female driver trainer. In favor of her mentorship and sense of compassion, by means of understanding both roles, as a trainee and a female truck driver. Accepting the driver trainer role, came with many responsibilities in addition to the title. It also created the opportunity for ladies to train alongside another female driver and carved a lane for those who wish to seek a career as a professional trucker. Some women request a trainer of the same gender, which raises the need for more female trainers.
Currently in a 2017 Volvo, Rozanne runs regional work pulling a refrigerated unit hauling food products, remaining on the road 5 days at a time. She says that stepping into the high-demand role of a driver trainer was never her intention, though she settled into the position rather smoothly. Adding the statement, “…trainers must enjoy teaching in order to be effective.” She describes being ‘adaptable’ as one of her strong suits; a special asset developed throughout a lifetime of nurturing.
“I was self-conscious being the only lady driver here, but I adapted to everything really well… that helped tremendously! You have to be that way in any line of work, particularly in the transportation business – when an issue occurs, and it happens in our line of work – you have to be quick on your feet. Once I found my rhythm, the rest fell into place. I learned self-discipline and focus early on, so when I became a trainer, I meshed it all together.
In a way, it’s like being a mother. I want them all to do well! I want to set them up for success. And if any of my trainees, especially the females, can see me and how far I’ve come as a driver, they should know that they can do this job too! I let them know all of my struggles, we discuss mistakes that I’ve made along the way… everything. My only hope is for others to learn from my story, apply it to their own experience, and pass that knowledge on to the next.”
Rozanne grew up in a rural area of Oklahoma, where everybody knew one another. Her small hometown allowed friendships to last years, and she remains close with many of those friends still today. As a student she was a competitive athlete and excelled in academics. By the age of 14, she found work at a nearby café located on Lake Texoma, a popular tourist area. Serving tables helped build her customer service skills, ultimately preparing her for a much larger audience. “Before trucking I spent the majority of my life waiting tables and catering. Now, I’m still in the food business but in a different fashion,” Rozanne says.
What she learned early on, listening to the customer and lots of patience, revealed the importance of meeting the customer’s needs. It’s a craft that she takes a lot of pride in, because it has allowed her the ability to provide for loved ones. The trucking industry isn’t for everybody and neither is customer service, but Rozanne has found a niche in which she can be the master of both.
After high school, Rozanne continued her education studying business administration as she welcomed the birth of her first child, Nikkolas. Joining the family two years later was her first set of twins, Ashley and Amber, followed by her second pair, Ariel and Dylan. Nikkolas fell ill with meningitis at the age of 3. Rozanne withdrew from college to focus on her son’s health and recovery. Unfortunately, the severity of the infection surpassed treatment. His passing sent waves of sorrow and mourning, yet Rozanne found peace in knowing her son was at rest. “You learn from the hardest parts in life, they make you stronger. Whatever battles you’re facing, they are meant for you to come out on the other side better than you were.” A gladiator of a mother, her primary obligation has now shifted to the world of trucking; empowering females to recognize that their strengths as women stretches much further than generations before her could have ever imagined.
A few months after obtaining her CDL, Rozanne narrowed down her search. After interviewing multiple individuals representing various trucking operations, her choice came down to a privately-owned company. The driver-friendly atmosphere of Dot Foods was “inviting with a great culture feel.” Stating, “Everyone treats you like family. I have done very well here as a driver and it’s due to the people. They are who make it great to drive for Dot Foods. My team, from management to trainers, they’re my backbone. They lift you up, cheer for you when you do great, and are there to help when you need it. I am very fortunate to have found Dot Foods and for the support I receive.”
Starting out as a new driver, Rozanne admits that she had difficulty backing up. Instructed with safety precautions, enforced through assistance and encouragement, Rozanne took her time to learn, practice, and gain confidence in her work. Those tiny details that pushed her to overcome those fears are what she teaches her trainees to embrace. She also stresses personal safety for women out on the road alone.
With experience pulling dry van and reefer trailers, she has accumulated over 500,000 miles throughout her 7 years of safe driving. Traveling and meeting new people keeps her interested, and while she is home, spending time with family is her only priority. Rozanne defines the role of a truck driver as a reliable person who understands the responsibility of safety, doesn’t take short cuts, and is extremely disciplined in their work as a professional. Her proudest career accomplishment has been representing the elite class of female drivers that are respectable, deserving, and very determined.
“If sharing my experience helps bring other women onboard to enjoy this as much as I do here at Dot Foods, then it’s the least I can do. Witnessing women succeed in this line of work and discovering their own independence as truck drivers is rewarding in itself.”